At UN, Sa’ar Blames Recognition of Palestinian State for Derailing Hostage Deal

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused several countries of sabotaging a potential ceasefire agreement with Hamas by announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state, saying such actions gave the terror group incentives to prolong the war.

“There are countries that acted, also in this building, to pressure Israel instead of Hamas during sensitive days in the negotiations by attacking Israel, campaigning against Israel, and the announcement of a recognition of a virtual Palestinian state. They gave Hamas free gifts and incentives to continue this war,” Sa’ar said during a press briefing at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

He continued, “They directly assassinated the hostage deal and ceasefire. Let me be clear: these countries prolonged the war. Hamas is responsible for beginning this war by invading Israel and committing the October 7 atrocities. Hamas is also responsible for the continuation of this war by still refusing to release our hostages and lay down its arms. The international pressure must be on Hamas. Anything else only prolongs the war.”

Sa’ar’s remarks came ahead of a UN Security Council session focusing on the situation in Gaza and the hostages held there.

In recent weeks, nations including the United Kingdom, France, and Canada have declared their intention to recognize a Palestinian state, with some doing so unconditionally and others linking it to developments in Gaza.

The foreign minister also drew attention to the suffering of the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.

“This past weekend, the world witnessed the cruel starvation of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, tortured deliberately by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The world saw their terrible condition, bones standing out in their skin, like living skeletons,” Sa’ar said.

“Evyatar was forced to dig his own grave. This is satanic. Hamas and Islamic Jihad used starvation and torture as part of a deliberate and well-planned propaganda campaign, but the truth must be told. Israel is facilitating huge amounts of aid into Gaza. No other country acts this way in war.”